Elmer A. Sperry's work enabled modern navigation

Inventor built first gyroscope compasses

4:29 AM,
Oct. 12, 2013

Elmer A. Sperry

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To navigate using a magnetic compass requires constant adjustment because of the difference between true north and magnetic north, where a compass needle points. Magnetic north is not a fixed point, and the magnetic declination that a navigator must calculate varies depending where in the world the compass is located.

It makes holding a straight course over distance difficult.

Among the almost 400 patents Elmer Ambrose Sperry was awarded (nearly twice the number Thomas Edison held), was the gyroscopic compass in 1908. His system enabled ships to navigate without using magnetic north, ...